ESA End Date.

In 2013 I successfully transferred from indefinite Incapacity Benefit to a 5 year ESA Support Group award without a medical. Last year I transferred from indefinite DLA to an ongoing award of PIP at the higher rate for both components. Following this I telephoned the DWP regarding my ESA and they told me my end date for ESA was July 4th of 2018. I asked what would happen next. The answer was somewhat ambiguous saying they would contact me nearer the time. If they haven't contacted me by my end date of July 4th will they continue to pay my ESA claim? I remember during the call the DWP said I didn't need to contact them to reapply for ESA and they would contact me - is this definitely the case?

After my PIP assessment last September I obtained a copy of the medical report. I notice there is a lot of overlap between the questions on the ESA form and the PIP form. For example the PIP medical report says I cannot convey food or drink to my mouth at all and can't walk 20 metres. When my ESA form finally arrives would it be worth including this PIP medical as evidence? You'd have thought there would be some joined up thinking at the DWP but when I spoke to them regarding ESA they said they have no knowledge of what information the PIP process collects.

Finally can I use the medical evidence I collected myself last year for my PIP application for my ESA renewal or is it worth collacting new evidence from my doctors?

Thanks. So should I just wait for my form to arrive from the DWP regarding my ESA renewal? As I mentioned something the DWP refer to as my "PLA" end date for my current award of ESA is July the 4th.

If I have not had the ESA renewal form by July the 4th will they continue to pay my claim on the basis, as you mention, ESA is an ongoing award with regular reassessment? Naturally I don't want to arrive at my end date on July the 4th to find the DWP haven't sent me a form and my ESA payments have stopped. As I mentioned I phoned the DWP last September and they said it was a case of don't contact us we'll contact you.

I take your point about using my PIP Medical Report from last year with caution! As i also asked, is it worthwhile using the medical evidence I gathered from doctors/ consultants for my PIP claim last year for my ESA renewal claim when the form finally arrives? The positive thing (In a way) is that all my PIP medical evidence said my condition was severe and would not change for the rest of my life.

Many Thanks,

JM

Thanks. And your thoughts about using my PIP medical evidence I collected from doctors/consultant's last year for my ESA renewal claim? Not the PIP medical report which you have already commented on.